Everything Sends a Message

After four years without snow, Durham experienced a snow event (though it didn't quite qualify as a storm) that left about an inch of noticeable accumulation. The storm arrived as forecasted on Friday around 8:00 pm, and all precipitation stopped by about 4:00 am on Saturday. Saturday's temperatures reached about 45°F, causing significant melting. The weather dipped below freezing on Saturday night, then hit about 50°F on Sunday before dropping below freezing again on Sunday night.

The local school district responded to this minor event by closing schools on Friday (before any precipitation had fallen or was forecasted) and calling a two-hour delay on Monday. (It was hard to find any ice on Monday morning.)

I understand and appreciate the need for the safety of students and staff, as well as the challenges of bus routes. However, the school district seemed to be sending a clear message: any weather risk, no matter how slight, outweighs the value of a day in school. Is this the message they want to send?

Back in March 2020, when COVID-19 first emerged, the school I was leading (like all schools in the US) suddenly went virtual. During this time, we decided to keep our weekly whole school assembly, even if it had to be on Zoom, and broadened the audience to include parents. We invited students to perform from their homes, and the chorus figured out how to sing together. We ended each assembly by reciting the school poem and shouting together, "We are dragons, we are real."

Duke School prided itself on its sense of community. During the pandemic, we wanted to convey the message that the community was still in it together. We never explicitly stated this message, but everyone heard it loud and clear.

Remember, every action you take (or fail to take) sends a message. Make sure your actions (or inactions) send the message you desire to convey.